It should come as no surprise that I believe in the power of a word fitly written. Especially when it’s handwritten in a card that has been delivered the old-fashioned way. We live in a world that’s constantly connected and plugged in. We leave comments on facebook walls, carry on conversations in text messages and send tweets to one another all day long, which is all nice and convenient, but I really miss the days of handwritten letters and cards.
The best relationships of my life have been maintained by handwritten cards and letters, posted with a stamp and delivered to my mailbox. I have stacks of personal notes stashed in a box in my desk drawer, and I pull them out from time to time to relive a memory or receive some encouragement. Those cards and letters mean the world to me.
One of the greatest women I’ve ever known is a master of written correspondence. I don’t know how many cards, letters, and thank you notes she writes in the course of a week, but it has to be in the double digits. I have a stack of postcards in her signature script, all delivered to my campus post office box when I was a student at Mississippi State. Any college student knows the value of a real piece of mail. There’s nothing more depressing than trudging all the way across campus to peer in the window of your post office box, only to find nothing but a CD from AOL. Mrs. June taught me that a handwritten card can change a person. The fact that she noticed when I was struggling and took the time to sit down and write me to let me know that she was praying for me changed my life.
I’ve tried to emulate her, but I really don’t sit down to write a note as often as I should. I’ve been working to change that lately. I do, after all, own a custom stationery business. Recently, a college friend posted a snapshot of a card I had written her on facebook. The card was several years old, but she said she kept it because it still cheers her up when she’s down. My jaw dropped when I saw the photo. I couldn’t believe that a simple note that I had completely forgotten about had made such an impact, and it inspired me to pick up my pen and start using some of the stationery that I make. Over the past week, I’ve dropped two cards in the mail, and I’m planning on writing more over the course of the next few days. I hope to make it a lifelong habit.
So, keep your eyes open and don’t forget to check your mail. You may just find a note from me in that rusty old box!
What about you? When was the last time you got a handwritten note in the mail? How did it make you feel? Who are you writing to this week?
Until next time, grace and peace.
